Unit formed of sheet material



c. F. WILLIAMS 1,875,188

FORMED OF SHEET MAT -Aug. 30, 1932. c. F. WILLIAMS I UNIT FORMED OF SHEET MATERIAL Fil ed Jan. 27, 1932 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W? (414%,? (J y;

-v 1932- c. F. WILLIAMS 1,875,188

UNIT FORMED OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 27, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 35 operate with the recesses provided by ribs in Patented Aug. 30,- 1932 UNITED STATES PATEN-T OFFICE CHARLES I. WILLIAMS, BELMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB T0 SHERMAN PROD- UCTS CORPORATION, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATION OF MAS- SACHUSETTS 11mm ronmnn or snnn'r Mammal Application filed January 27, 1932. semi No. 589,234.

elements cooperating to provide numerous enclosed cells or chambers, which may be substantially hermetically sealed. In certain embodiments of the invention a plane sheet may be secured to the back of the unit to coorder to afiord additional cells. In some cases the plane sheet may be formed of material havin high ability to refiect radiant heat, aluminum foil being preferred for this g purpose.

The sheet elements may be secured togetherin any desired manner; for example, a suitable agglutinant such as an ordinary animal glue may be employed at the contacting portions of the sheets, or the sheet elements may be dipped in asuitable adhesive and/or protective coating such as melted parafiine and then ressed into adhesive engagement. The specific form of the sheet elements and bentout ridges may vary considerably. For example, Imay employ sheet elements which are provided with portions bent at an angle to each other, alternate portions being in substantial parallel-ism so that a plurality of parallel ridges andelongate recesses are provided. Before or after thesheet element is thus bent, a plurality of openings, for. example of substantially diamond shape, may be suitably formed in the element or blank for interengagement with ridge-portions of the other cooperating sheet element, which may have the same'general form, The sheet elements are then disposed with their ridged portions or ribs extendingtransversely of each other and in interfitting engagement so thatsmall closed chambers or air cells are provided between. the -cooperatingbent-out portions of the .sheets. The elongate channels or recesses of one unit are interrupted by the ribs of the other unit, sothat there need no continuous channel to permit convection currents of air.

Units of this type particularly having plane sheets of heat reflective material secured thereto may be advantageousl employed for heat insulating purposes. hen the units are exposed to considerable moisture, they are preferably treated by a coating of parafiine or the like to'render the individual sheet elements substantially water resistant. While these units ha ve particular util ity for heat insulating purposes, the arrange ment of the crossed ribs in interfitting engagement permits the employment of relativelyrthin and light sheet stock to afford a sheet unit which is relatively strong and stiff, and yet which is very light in weight, and accordingly which may have utility for a wide variety of purposes.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a broken isometric view of! a portion of a sheet unit constructed in accordance with this invention; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a pdrtion of the unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of a blank from which the unit of Fig. 1 is formed, the fold lines being indicated in dot and dash lines; I

Fig. 4 is" an end elevation showing the arrangement of aplurality of the units in an insulatng assembly, such as may be employed in a hollow insulating wall; 1

Figs. 5 and 6'are plan views of blanks employed in forming an optional sheet unit;

Fig. 7 is an elevation'of the edge of the blank shown in Fig. 5 1 Y I Fig. 8 is a broken-isometric view ofa unit constructed of the blanks shown in Figs. 5 and 6; 1

' Fig. 9 is a of blank; Fig.-'10 is'a broken isometric view of a sheet unit constructed "of blanks such astop p lan viewof another type shown in .Fig. 9;

trated [in l1.

'andfirst more particularly to Referring to the accompanyin drawings,

IgS. 1, 2, and 4, it is evident that a sheet unit may be formed of similar sheetelements or suitably opening) shazied blanks 1 and 2. Asshown in Fig. 3,

the lank 2 may be provided. with a lurality of parallel fold lines 3 and 3a iamondshaped openings 5 being dispose with their longer diagonals transversely to the fold lines and extending between alternate pairs of lines 3, so that a plurality of rows of openings are. provided, each opening being spaced transversely of the fold lines from thenext at a distance corresponding to two spaces etween fold lines, and each openin havin its shorter diagonal in alignment wit one o the fold lines 3a. Openin s'in rows extending transversely of the lank are s aced verticall of the sheet (as viewed in ig. 3), so that. old lines 3 may be juxtaposed to the corners of alternate openings extending in op osite directions from that line, and

' oppositely inclined sections 8 and 9 in re.

the opposite face of the blank, the recesses so thatt e fold lines 3a are interrupted by' the central portions of these openings.

Both the lanks 1 and 2 may be formed in the same general manner with openings 5 and may be folded along lines 3 andfiw to provide I 'l i ilght angles to the adjoining sections 8.

us the sections 8 and 9 meet to provide grooves 12a and ri s 11a upon the opposite slde of. the sheet. The ribs 11 of each element are formed by folding along the lines 3, and thereto.

the intermediate recesses 12 are provided by folding along lines 3a; while, as viewed from 12a opposite ribs 11 are afforded by folding alonglines 3' and ribs 110 opposite recesses 12 are afior ed by folding along lines-3a. Thus, as viewed from one side, a blank has ribs 11 at the ends of openings 5 and ooves 12-interrupted by said openings, w ile, as

viewed from the other side, the blank has ribs 11a interrupted by the openings and recesses 12a uninterrupted by said openings. The blanks are assembled with their ribs 111 transverse relation to each other,'the openings 5 of each blank being in interfitting eng ahgement with the ribs 110 of the other blank. e sheets may then be secured to each other in any suitable way as, for example, by an adhesive applied around the edges of the openings 5 or preferably the sheet elements may be coated or impregnated with apro-y tective adhesive, such as melted parafiin, just before they are arranged in interfitting enga ment. p

Fig.2 shows a portion of a unit thus ribs 11 and grooves 12 upon one side of the element and respectively corresponding,

formed with transverse rib portions 11a and 3- elonga te ribs 11, so that each exposed face of the blank comprises a series of elongate ribs 11 with rib portions 11a extending therebetween. Intermediate the elements are closed chambers or dead air cells, which are enclosed bythe opposite sides of parallel ribs 11 and 11a. Each of these air cells may be considered to be of pyramidal form, having an inclined base corresponding to the face 9 of one of the ridges, and three inclined sides, two of which are provided by the mutually inclined sections 8 and 9 of the ridge element extending transversely of the vided may have a plane sheet 14 secured to one of its faces so that the mutual ridge portions cooperate with the plane sheet in defining additional air cells, the sides and ends of which are provided by adjoinin sur-. faces of'parallel pairs of ribs, and t e remaining sides of .which are provided by the plane sheet. Such a plane sheet 14 preferably may be formed of material having high abilityto. reflect radiant hes. as, for example, aluminum foil. Obviously several of the units when assembled with face sheets, as shown in Fig. 4, and employed to fill a space as, for'example, the hollow walls Q of a, refrigerator, may be effective in defining numerous 's'mall chambers containing air.

loo I desired, when a plurality of-the units are It is evident that units of the type shown in Fig. 4 provide numerous small air cells which may be entirely closed so that circulation of air by convection is materially peded and relatively effective insulation is attained in so far as heat conduction is concerned. If heat reflective sheets 14 are also employed, the amount of heat transferred, due to radiantv action, may be very low so that a wall employing units arranged in the manner shown inFig. 4 may have high heat insulating efficiency. Quite aside from the heat insulating effectiveness of units of this type, a unit such as shown in Fig. 2 may be relatively strong, although formed of light material, and if a plane sheet 14 is 'adhesively secured-to the ridges providedby the ribs of the unit, the stiffness of the same is materially increased, providing a surprisingly rigid and sturdy unit,.evenif relatively light sheet ma terial is employed. Figs, 5to 8 illustrate an o tional embodiand transversely of the sheet, with their longer and shorter diagonals mutually aligned and with their corners in spaced relation. Preferably the corners at the ends j of the longer diagonals are juxtaposed to fold lines 26, two of which may be provided between each row of openings 25. Intermediate each pair of fold lines 26 theremay be a single fold line 27 corresponding to the shorter diagonals of the openings 25. g Fi 6 illustrates the second blank 21 which may he employed to cooperate with the blank of Fig. 5. This blank 21 may have the same shape as the blank 20 of Fig. 5, with 1 pairs of adjoining fold lines 26a, with fold lines 27a'betwe'en each pair of lines 2611. The blank 20 may be folded, as shown in 'Fig. 7, to provide planar por;ions 33 between adj oining fold lines 26 and to provide mutually inclined sections 28 and 29 between each planar portion 33. The blank 21 may be folded in a similar manner to have planar ortions 33a providing the aligned outer sur aces of parallel ribs-with respectively parallel inclined sections 28a and 29a meeting substantially at right. angles therebetween. The blanks 20 and 21 are then secured together with their ribs extending transversely of each other, as

shown in Fig. 8', the planar portions 33 of the blank 20 contacting with the ridges between adjoining sections 28a and 29a of blank 21, the openings 25 permitting these ridges to extend continuously along the unit, as shown in Fi 8, while the short fold portions pro- .vi ed along the fold lines 27 of element 20 extend transversely of and engage the planar sections 33h.

It is evident that the blanks 20 and '21, when thus secured together, enclose numerous defined by the opposite faces 28 and 29 of the ribs of the blank 21 and by the adjoining inclined sides 28a and 29a of the corresponding ribs of blank 20, as well as the connecting planar portions 33 and 33a. Furthermore, the side of the unit shown in Fig. 8 provides numerous recesses which may be closed by the application of a plane sheet element to the surfaces 33. The unit shown in Fig. 8 is capable of ready bending in the direction of extent of surfaces 33, while affording relatively high resistance to bending in a transverse direction. l

- Fig. 9 illustrates a blank which may be employed in another type of sheet unit, this blank {l0 being provided with parallel equally spaced fold lines 43 androws of elongate rectangular openings 45 being disposed between the fold lines in'the general manner shown. The blank is then folded along the lines 43, so that adjoining sections are at right angles to each other, thus providing alternate ribs defined by three planar portions, the intermediate ortion of each ribbeing at 65 right angles to t e side portions which are parallel to each other and normal to the gen eral plane of the sheet. Two of the units 40, as thus formed, may be assembled, as shown in Fig. 10, with their rib portions crossing each other, and rib portions of each element interfitting with the openings provided in the rib portions of the other unit. Thus an element is provided in which the rib portions enclose substantially cubical chambers and provide rectilinear or prismatic recesses upon each side, which may be closed with a facesheet of aluminum foil or any desired material.

Fig. 11 illustrates a further type of blank 50, which, in the position shown, has parallel fold lines 53 disposed horizontally of the sheet in equally spaced relation to each other. Slots 55 are provided extending between fold lines as shown, these slots being'arranged in rows Vertically and transversely of the sheet. The sheet element is folded so that the intermediate parts of the slots are disposed at portions of ribs which are provided by bending sheet sections substantially in parallelism upon themselves, as indicated by numeral in Fig. 12. Between these ribs are continuous planar sections 61, so that the unit may be provided with a series of outstanding substantially fiat ribs-or flanges 61 separated by planar sections 61 in alignment with each other and disposed in the general plane'of the sheet. Two similar elements 50 maybe employed with their ribs 61 extending transversely of each other,the slotted portions of the'ribs of each element or section being in interfitting engagement with the rib portions of the other section.

With this embodiment of the invention a plurality of substantially cubular or prisair cells'or chambers therebetween, which are 'mati ell ar d fined and enclosedby the ridgesections and the planar sections 62. so

that an entirely enclosed system of cells is provided without necessity for the employment of an additional face sheet. In this form of the invention one of the elements 50 may be formed of heat reflective material or may have a layer of this material secured thereto.

From the foregoing, it is evident that this invention permits the employment of sheet elements formed of fiat sheet blanks and folded to provide suitable ribs and recesses, openings being provided in one or both of the blanks, so that the blanks may fit together to enclose certain air cells and to provide recesses, if desired, which may be closed by, a face sheet applied to one face of the unit. A unit of this type is relatively stifi? andhas a wide range ofutility, but is particularly suitable for heat insulating purposes, especially when a face sheet ofheat reflective material is employed between adjoining units.

Iclaim: 1. Unit formed of sheet material, compris ing a pair of sheet elements, each of said elements having ribs formed side by side with recesses therebetween, openings in certain of said ribs,'the ribs of one of said elements being received in the openings and having their tops engaging recesses of the other element, the elements cooperating to provide closed air chambers;

2. Unit formed of sheet material, comprising a pair of sheet elements, each of said ele: ments having substantially parallel folds to provide ribs and recesses upon one side of the element and corresponding recesses and ribs upon the opposite side of the element, certain of the ribs of one element having openings therein, the ribs of the other element extending transversely of the ribs of the first element and through said openings whereby the elements are in interfitting relation.

3. Article of the class described, comprising two sheet elements, each element being provided with a plurality of folded'portions affording parallel ribs and grooves therebetween, the vribs of each element extending transversely to the ribs of the other element, notches being formed in certain of the ribs of one element to receive the ribs of the other element, whereby a plurality of air cells are defined by the ribs andgrooves.

4. Article of the class described comprising a pair of sheet elements, each having parallel ridges and grooves formed therein, the ridges of one element extending transversely of, the ridges of the other element, said ridges being notched and the tops of the ridges of one element being juxtaposed to the grooves of the other element, whereby a'plurality of substantially enclosed air cells are provided,

5. Unit formed of sheet material, comprising apair. of sheet elements, each of said elements having ribs formed side by side with grooves-therebetween, openings in certain of I said ribs, the ribs of one of said elements being received in the openings and having their tops en aging the grooves of the other element, t e elements cooperating to provide closed air chambers and outer recesses, and a faceisheet secured to one side of one element, the elements and sheet being adhesively connected.

6. Unit formed of sheet material, comprising a pair of sheet elements, each of said elements having parallel folds to provide ribs and grooves upon one side of the element and corresponding grooves and ribs upon the opposite side of the element, certain of the ribs upon one element having openings therein,

the ribs upon the other element extending transversely of the ribs of the first element andthrough said openings, whereby the elements are in interfitting relation, the ribs cooperating to provide recess-es, and a face sheet of high ability to reflect radiant heat, secured over the recesses to afford substantially closed chambers.

7 Unitformed of sheet material, comprisclosed chambers.

ing a pair ofsheet elements, each of said ele ments having parallel folds to provide ribs and grooves upon one side of the element and corresponding grooves and ribs upon the opposite side of the element, certain of the ribs upon one element having openings therein, the ribs upon the other element extending transversely of the ribs of the first element and through said openings whereby the elements are in interfitting relation, the elements cooperating I to provide closed chambers therebetween and outer recesses between pairs ofopposite ribs, and a face sheet disposed over the ribs to close'said recesses,

8. Unit formed of sheet material, comprising a pair of sheet elements, each of-said elements having ribs formed side by side with grooves therebetween, openings in certain of said ribs, the ribs of one of said elements being received in the openings and having their tops engaging the grooves of the otherelement, the elements cooperating to provide closed air chambers and outer recesses, and

a face sheet of aluminum foil mounted over.

the recesses at one side qf ,the unit to provide 9. Unit formed of sheet material, comprising a pair of sheet elements, each of said elements having ribs formed side by side with grooves therebetween, openings in certain of said ribs, the ribs of one of said elements being receivedin the openings and having their tops engaging the grooves of the other element, the elementsicooperating to provide cloced ,air chambers, said elements being formed of fibrous material andtreated with a protective agent which adhesively holds them together. v m

10. Unit formed of sheet material, comprising a pair of sheet elements, each of said elements having ribs substantially parallel to each other with oppositely inclined surfaces, alternate surfaces being substantially paral-.

lel, said elements having openings disposed in rows along certain ribs, the ribs of one element extending transversely of the ribs of the other element and' being received in said openings, the elements cooperating to enclose air 'chambers of substantially pyramidal shape therebetween and providing recesses on each side between oppositely inclined surfaces of pairs of parallel ridges.

11. Unit formed of sheet material comprising a pair of sheet elements, each-of said elementsbeingbent in opposite directions 'along parallel fold lines to provide sets of alternate substantially parallel sections, adjoining sections being at an angle to each other, substantially diamond-shaped openings with one pair of corners juxtaposed to the alternate parallel fold lines, said-openings interrupting intermediate fold lines,

said fold lines-afiordin substantially continuous ridges, on one si] e of a sheet element and interrupted rib portions upon its oppoon each side between oppositely inclined surfaces of pairs of parallel ridges, and a face sheet secured over the recesses at one side of the unit. a

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 26th day of January, 1932.

' CHARLES F. WILLIAMS.

clined sections to provide ridges, one of said elements having a row. of openings between said planar portions thus interrupting its ridges to provide separate ridge portions, the ridges of the other element extending transversely through said openings and engaging planar portionsof the element having the openings, said last-named element having its ridge portions engaging planar portions of ,the other element.' I

13. Unit formed of sheet material, comprising a pair of sheet elements, each of said elements being folded to provide alternate sections in parallelism to each other and dis- I posed in two parallel planes, alternate sections being connected by sections at right angles thereto, each side, of the element thus being provided with parallel ribs with planar outer faces and parallel planar sides, the ribs upon one sideof each element having openings therein, the elements being secured to-' gether with their ribs in interfitting engage- I ment so that the ribs of one element are realternate surfaces being substantially paral- I ceived in the openings-of the other element,

the elements cooperating in enclosing air chambers therebetween and in providing prismatic recesses upon each side of the unit.

14. Unit formed of sheet material, comprising a pair of sheet elements each of said elements having aligned planar sections with parallel ribs substantially at right angles thereto afforded by folding the material back upon itself between said aligned sections, the ribs having slots therein, the elements being secured in interfitting relation with the ribs of one element extending-through the openings in ribs of the element and juxtaposed to the planar sections of said element, whereby a plurality'of air chambers are provided between the elements.

15. Unit formed of sheetmaterial', comprising a pair of sheet elements,'eac h of said elements having ribs substantially parallel to each other with oppositely inclined surfaces,

lel, said elements having openings disposed in rows along certain ribs, the ribs of-one element extending transversely of theribs of the other element and being received in said openings, the elements cooperating'to enclose -airchambers of' substantially pyramidal shape therebetween and providing recesses 

